We've proved a lot of people wrong, says Sittingbourne joint-boss Jim Ward

SITTINGBOURNE joint-manager Jim Ward says his side will have to win all of their last remaining six games to snatch a play-off spot.

 

The Brickies are presently in tenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 54 points and are five points behind fifth-placed Ramsgate.

Ward said: “I think it’s very doubtful we can get into the play-offs.  We’ve got what we’ve got. We’re very thin on the ground.  We have to win all our games and if we’re capable of going that, well who knows, but what a season it’s been for the boys.

“We’re a group of lads that have come together, all rejects from all different clubs, all get paid next to no money really. As a team I think they’ve been so fantastic. Me and Danny (Ward) are so proud of their achievements this year.

“Everybody thought we were relegation fodder at the start of the season. We haven’t been in trouble. We’ve proved a lot of people wrong.”

Sittingbourne have had a mixed Easter.  They defeated former tenants Maidstone United 2-1 at Bourne Park on Saturday, before going down to a 3-0 defeat at Faversham Town a couple days later.

“We played Maidstone and we went there with a game plan and to be fair to the boys they were excellent,” said Ward.

“A bit of controversy in the game. They had two sent-off, one I thought was rightly sent off and the other one was harsh and we had a man sent off (Ryan Golding) for throwing the ball at somebody’s knees – ridiculous!

“The game itself was 60-40 to Maidstone and they’re entitled to that. They played some decent stuff.  We restricted them to long throws and long shots. I can only remember my keeper saving one over the post and he saved one down the near post and we had as many chances really as them.

“I thought the game was blessed with two special goals. I thought Ryan Golding’s deft-flick over his head and into the corner was fantastic – and Stuart King’s was a fantastic goal from outside of the box.

“The game itself, we set up so they could only play in front of us and that’s the way it panned out. They got frustrated and they were on to the referee all the time so we were delighted with the win.”

Sittingbourne were unable to match those heroics against Faversham Town at Salters Lane.

“To be fair it was a game too much for us,” admitted Ward.

“On Saturday we had to play (Ashley) Ulph and (Ryan) Cooper, who were both injured and by the time Monday came along we had to play both again because we were short of numbers. Both had to play and both went off injured.

“Hopefully they’ll be alright for the rest of the season but it was needs must. Fair play to Faversham, they completely dominated the game and deserved to win 3-0.”

Sittingbourne remain on the road when they travel to Surrey to face a Chipstead side that are three points clear of Walton Casuals, the side that now occupy the sole relegation berth.

Ward said: “We’ve spoken to Gavin Rose, the manager of Dulwich and he reckons Chipstead are the best team they’ve played against and they’re fifth-bottom, so we’ll go there like we’ve done in every game, we’ll be organised and set up properly looking for three points.

“We’ve only got maybe 13-14 players this weekend. A couple of the Academy players will have to come into the fold. That’s the way we thought we were going to go this season and we were lucky enough lads who wanted to play for us just to enjoy playing for me and Danny.

“We’ve got six games left. We’ll be trying to get as many points as we can.”

Sittingbourne have announced this week that they will be leaving Bourne Park to play at Woodstock, which is based at Broadoak Road in rural Sittingbourne, next season.

The club has not issued an official statement over the move to their Kent League neighbours but Tania Spice, the wife of chairman Andy, spelled out the situation at the club with a posting on the club’s official fans forum.

The club have struggled to survive for a number of years, even more so since former tenants Maidstone United have moved back home.

“The groundshare agreement between us did indeed play a significant part in our survival,” she said.

“The fact that we are now moving to Woodstock is not merely down to the fact that Maidstone United now have a beautiful home of their own, but that our lease (which had already been extended by a year) had come to an end and we were unable to negotiate better terms with our landlord.

“Although the agreement signed many moons ago when the stadium was first leased to Cearnsport, was at the time considered reasonable. It was signed mainly became it was simply a case of take it – or leave it.

“If we wanted Sittingbourne Football Club to continue there wasn’t much choice.

“It is common knowledge that we have struggled ever since and, as since that time, attendance and sponsorship has dipped drastically and utility bills etc have risen equally as drastically, it can come to no real surprise to anyone that the decision has been made to move in order to reduce costs as much as possible.

“Once again, to be frank, there wasn’t a lot of choice if the club is to continue as we definitely couldn’t afford to stay at Bourne Park but our mood is definitely enthusiastic and upbeat as we finish one chapter and look forward to starting the next in the history of Sittingbourne Football Club.”

The joint-manager was asked his thoughts on the move.

“I don’t really know too much about it to be honest with you,” admitted Ward.

“The chairman took me and my staff up to Woodstock to have a look around and yes if they get all the work done they say they’re going to do, it will definitely be up to Ryman standard.

“Can we get the people watching? That’s the next one because they’re certainly not coming to watch down at Bourne Park, so the plan is to get more people to watch us.

When asked about the finances of groundsharing somewhere else, Ward replied, “I don’t know about income. It’s not my problem. My problem is to get a football team on the pitch. Me and Danny and my coaching staff scour the county looking for possible players to join in with us.

“Let Andy Spice and his team go and deal about finances. We can only do what we do.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk  

Chipstead  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 6 April 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At High Road, Chipstead, Surrey CR5 3SF